LRD guides and handbook May 2017

Law at Work 2017

Chapter 9

Statutory Maternity Pay



[ch 9: page 329]

To qualify for statutory maternity pay (SMP), a woman must:



• have worked for the employer for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due;



• in the eight weeks (or two months if monthly paid) preceding the 15th week, have had average earnings of at least £113 a week (2017-18);



• by the 15th week before the baby is due, have given the employer medical evidence of the pregnancy and told them when she intends to stop work and start claiming SMP; and



• have stopped working.